A Second World War Commando M.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant J. A. Groom, Combined Operations Experimental Establishment, Royal Engineers, for a daring covert reconnaissance of beach mines and obstacles, Operation ‘Tarbrush’, prior to the D-day landings

Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated 1944, and additionally inscribed ‘J. A. Groom, 251488, 4th Commando’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; France & Germany Star; Defence & War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn together with companion set of miniatures, and three original letters, very fine and rare (14) £800-1000

M.C. London Gazette 3 August 1944: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field.’

The original ‘Secret’ recommendation form Combined Operations Headquarters, in respect of Operations “Tarbrush”, states, ‘Owing to the extreme secrecy of these operations, it has not been possible in the attached citations fully to disclose the hazards involved. For this reason, the documents in themselves may not adequately support my recommendation that so high a proportion of those who took part should receive awards. The information that had to be secured was vital to our impending Campaign. The tasks involved were known in advanceto be unusually dangerous; and it was not, at that time, expected that many of those engaged would in fact be recovered. It was with a full knowledge of these conditions that officers and men from Commando Units, Combined Operations Experimental Establishments [C.O.X.E.] and Royal Engineers, 21 Army Group, volunteered for this duty.’

The attached recommendation for Groom’s Immediate award states: ‘Lieutenant John Arthur Groom, C.O.X.E., Royal Engineers. This officer was a member of a military force which landed in the vicinity of Bray-Dunes, N.E. coast of France, on the night of 16/17 May 1944, to carry out a detailed reconnaissance of beach mines and obstacles, the nature and potentialitiesof which were not known.

Despite the presence of enemy patrols on the beach, Lt Groom, together with his NCO, swept a path with his mine detector up the beach towards the obstacles. On arrival at these obstacles he proceeded to make, with the greatest courage and coolness, a careful and detailed examination of an object thought to be a new type of mine, and which might have been detonated by a device unknown to him and against which he could take no precautions. He followed this by a second examination, for comparison, of a similar object close by, and he took note and measurements of other obstacles in the vicinity. He then led his party back to the dinghy, in which they embarked and withdrew undetected.

Lt Groom was the first man of the force to approach and reconnoitre that object which was given the highest priority of the tasks allotted to the force, and in making a successful examination and in bringing this vital information back without leaving any trace of its having been obtained, he showed the greatest courage, efficiency, and coolness in face of the enemy.’

The group is accompanied by two original letters of congratulation, including one from Major-General Robert Laycock, Chief of Combined Operations, and another letter on No. 4 Commando letterhead concerning Groom’s invention ‘for extending anti-tank mines in a tank ambush’. Also included are four handwritten pages by Groom concerning Operation “Tarbrush”.